Orlando City Hangs On to Take Down the Portland Timbers.
- gary levitt
- 6 minutes ago
- 2 min read
After a Fast Start and a First Half Goal, the Lions Prevailed to Take Three Points on Saturday night.
Playing their eighth game in the last four weeks, including the two U.S. Open Cup matches, Orlando City hung on to take a 1-0 win against the Portland Timbers. Here are a few takes from last night's match in front of 21,256 at Inter&Co. Stadium.
The Orlando City player pool provides the depth and rotation necessary to navigate the Major League Soccer (MLS) season. As mentioned above, the Lions, as well as the Timbers have had to contend with match congestion due to their League and Open Cup schedules. Both sides bowed out of the U.S. Open Cup with losses last Wednesday night, and it was evident that both teams were dragging, especially Orlando City in last night's second half. Due to player rotation, Orlando City found themselves fortunate to have Dagur Dan Thórhallsson, Martin Ojeda, Kyle Smith, Joran Gerbet, and Ramiro Enrique to come off the bench to help finish off last night's game.
Out many weeks due to injury, Orlando City manager Oscar Pareja finally had Eduard Atuesta back in the starting lineup paired with center midfielder Cesar Araujo. Pareja's decision to start Atuesta provided immediate impact with the Lions, providing tactical awareness, ball-winning, and a splendid pass to Duncan McGuire for the 39th minute winning goal. Atuesta has been a welcomed and necessary addition to Orlando City with Wilder Cartagena out with a season-ending injury.
Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and his three central defenders of Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, and Rodrigo Schlegel again provided a clean sheet, helping the Lions to a twelve-match unbeaten streak in MLS action. The recent change Pareja made, going to a back three of central defenders, has given the Lions a solid defense with Brekalo often getting forward to help create numerical advantage in the attacking third.
Another quick turnaround for the Lions as Wednesday night they travel up I-75 to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face struggling Atlanta United. Atlanta United will be coming off a Sunday night game against Cincinnati, giving Orlando City one more day of rest in this once-fierce rivalry game. Last night's win has Orlando City in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a great chance of taking another three points on Wednesday night.
Gary Levitt @gary1123 www.justmytake.net
photo credit: Orlando City Soccer Club
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